RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize 2012 Shortlists Five Houses

By Bustler Editors|

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012

Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects

Yesterday we published the shortlist for the RIBA Manser Medal 2012 for the best new house, and today we're following up with the list of shortlisted houses for this year's Stephen Lawrence Prize which the RIBA announced just recently.

The Stephen Lawrence Prize, sponsored by the Marco Goldschmied Foundation, rewards the best examples of projects that have a construction budget of less than £1 million (US$1.62M). The prize, set up in memory of the teenager who was setting out on the road to becoming an architect when he was murdered in 1993, is intended to encourage fresh talent working with smaller budgets.

The shortlisted projects are drawn from RIBA award-winning buildings presented earlier this year (previously on Bustler). The 2012 panel of judges includes architects Phil Coffey, Marco Goldschmied and Doreen Lawrence.

The architects describe this scheme as ‘an essay in concrete for clients who relish the uncompromising ascetic quality of the material’. The four level house follows a rigorous plan with double volume corridors either side of a circulation and services core. Despite the small footprint, the abiding impression is one of space flowing in all directions.

The construction employs large precast panels for the party walls. This enabled the main structure to be built very quickly. Altogether a tour-de-force in urban residential design.

Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects

The brief called for a house that reflected the environmental sensitivities of the client, was contemporary in design, honest in its expression both of form and material and rooted in place. As with all private houses the type of spaces and their arrangement is intensely personal, and the design process sought to be open, collaborative and flexible.

The house was conceived as a primarily timber construction. By using re-cycled excavation material as a retaining wall the carbon footprint was kept low and the project on budget. The beautifully crafted all plywood interior creates a simple, serene series of interconnected spaces. The ambitious in-situ welded steel stair is a dramatic sculptural element contrasting with the warmth of the plywood surrounding it on all sides.

This is a taut, exemplary response to the development of a landlocked site: an intelligent house built by an architect couple for themselves.The site, reached by a narrow lane, is contained by back gardens.

The house demonstrates a highly disciplined attention to detail in the design and the immaculate quality of the construction. All fitting-out responds absolutely to the brick module of the enclosure. A simple palette of materials is employed - exposed brickwork, oak storage wall panels, stairs and flooring and dark stained timber framed bespoke glazing. There is a playful use of brass in the glazing trim and the taps, and more play in the pink flesh colored shower interiors.

The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young

Previously refurbished by the same architects, due to the success of the Grade II Listed restaurant ‘The Marquis’ has now been extended to provide additional hotel rooms, improved staff facilities and an enlarged kitchen.

The new building ties into its surroundings with the use of locally sourced flint and Kent Peg Tiles reclaimed from the demolished cottage that used to be on the site. A sedum roof also meshes it into the landscape. A fine example of good architecture engendering business success.

RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize 2012 Shortlists Five Houses

By Bustler Editors|

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012

Share

Related

Yesterday we published the shortlist for the RIBA Manser Medal 2012 for the best new house, and today we're following up with the list of shortlisted houses for this year's Stephen Lawrence Prize which the RIBA announced just recently.

The Stephen Lawrence Prize, sponsored by the Marco Goldschmied Foundation, rewards the best examples of projects that have a construction budget of less than £1 million (US$1.62M). The prize, set up in memory of the teenager who was setting out on the road to becoming an architect when he was murdered in 1993, is intended to encourage fresh talent working with smaller budgets.

The shortlisted projects are drawn from RIBA award-winning buildings presented earlier this year (previously on Bustler). The 2012 panel of judges includes architects Phil Coffey, Marco Goldschmied and Doreen Lawrence.

The architects describe this scheme as ‘an essay in concrete for clients who relish the uncompromising ascetic quality of the material’. The four level house follows a rigorous plan with double volume corridors either side of a circulation and services core. Despite the small footprint, the abiding impression is one of space flowing in all directions.

The construction employs large precast panels for the party walls. This enabled the main structure to be built very quickly. Altogether a tour-de-force in urban residential design.

Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects Hill Top House, Oxford (private house) by Adrian James Architects

The brief called for a house that reflected the environmental sensitivities of the client, was contemporary in design, honest in its expression both of form and material and rooted in place. As with all private houses the type of spaces and their arrangement is intensely personal, and the design process sought to be open, collaborative and flexible.

The house was conceived as a primarily timber construction. By using re-cycled excavation material as a retaining wall the carbon footprint was kept low and the project on budget. The beautifully crafted all plywood interior creates a simple, serene series of interconnected spaces. The ambitious in-situ welded steel stair is a dramatic sculptural element contrasting with the warmth of the plywood surrounding it on all sides.

This is a taut, exemplary response to the development of a landlocked site: an intelligent house built by an architect couple for themselves.The site, reached by a narrow lane, is contained by back gardens.

The house demonstrates a highly disciplined attention to detail in the design and the immaculate quality of the construction. All fitting-out responds absolutely to the brick module of the enclosure. A simple palette of materials is employed - exposed brickwork, oak storage wall panels, stairs and flooring and dark stained timber framed bespoke glazing. There is a playful use of brass in the glazing trim and the taps, and more play in the pink flesh colored shower interiors.

The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young The Dellow Day Centre, London E1 by Featherstone Young

Previously refurbished by the same architects, due to the success of the Grade II Listed restaurant ‘The Marquis’ has now been extended to provide additional hotel rooms, improved staff facilities and an enlarged kitchen.

The new building ties into its surroundings with the use of locally sourced flint and Kent Peg Tiles reclaimed from the demolished cottage that used to be on the site. A sedum roof also meshes it into the landscape. A fine example of good architecture engendering business success.